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Yaqeen unleashed on All Blacks
Junior Boks flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed will make his Stormers debut after being named to start in Friday night’s historic clash against the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium.
The 20-year-old has been handed the No 10 jersey for the opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, partnering scrumhalf Imad Khan in a new-look halfback pairing.
Outside centre Ruhan Nel will captain the Stormers in what will be the first time the Cape club has faced New Zealand, although Western Province met the All Blacks five times and famously won 12-11 at Newlands in 1976. toffler.lol
WATCH: When WP upset All Blacks
Nel forms the midfield combination with Jonathan Roche, while Warrick Gelant starts at fullback alongside wings Seabelo Senatla and Leolin Zas.
The Stormers have opted for an experienced loose trio, with Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani and Deon Fourie reunited in the same combination that started the 2021-22 Vodacom URC final triumph at Cape Town Stadium.
In the tight five, André-Hugo Venter packs down between props Vernon Matongo and Neethling Fouché, while Adré Smith and Connor Evans start in the second row.
Loose forward Ruan Ackermann is among the replacements, with Dewaldt Duvenage and Wandisile Simelane set to provide backline cover off the bench.
MORE: All Blacks brace for unknown Stormers battle
Director of rugby John Dobson said his side is determined to embrace the occasion.
“This is history in the making as the Stormers take on New Zealand for the first time, and our team is determined to make it one to remember for our fans.
“For a club side to take on an international team ranked second in the world is a massive opportunity and one that every player and management member is looking forward to.”
ALSO: New Springbok jersey revealed
STORMERS – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Bench: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Wandile Mlaba, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The post Yaqeen unleashed on All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Chiefs Confirm Msimango, Du Preez Departures to Stellies
Kaizer Chiefs have announced that defender Given Msimango and striker Ashley du Preez have left the club to join Stellenbosch FC.
Msimango arrived at Chiefs from TS Galaxy FC back during the 2023-24 season and went on to feature 53 times across all competitions.
Du Preez joined Chiefs from Stellies in the 2022-23 campaign and scored 19 goals and registered nine assists in 96 appearances in all competitions.
The Glamour Boys have since confirmed the duo will join the Maroons for the 2026-27 season.
“Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango and striker Ashley du Preez have left the Club to join Stellenbosch FC in the Western Cape,” Chiefs said in a statement.
“Msimango, who joined Chiefs from TS Galaxy ahead of the 2023/24 season, made a strong impact during his time at Naturena. The 29-year-old international featured in 53 official matches across all competitions, bringing leadership and consistency to Amakhosi’s backline.
“Du Preez, also 29, returns home to Stellenbosch having spent four seasons with Chiefs after being signed from the Winelands Club in July 2022, and going on to register 19 goals and 6 assists in 96 appearances for the Glamour Boys. His performances in the league earned him a few caps for the South African national team, Bafana Bafana.
“Both players have made significant contributions to Kaizer Chiefs during their time with the Club. Notably, they were part of the team that lifted the Nedbank Cup towards the end of the 2024/25 season.
“We extend our gratitude to Given and Ashley for serving the Club with diligence, dedication and professionalism, and we wish them all the best in their careers.”
The post Chiefs Confirm Msimango, Du Preez Departures to Stellies appeared first on SportsClub.
Cameroun: une campagne de sensibilisation menée dans les aéroports contre le trafic d'espèces protégées
Au Cameroun, une campagne est en cours pour lutter contre le trafic des espèces protégées dans les aéroports à l’initiative de l’ONG WildAid. Sur les écrans numériques des aéroports de Douala et Yaoundé, les messages de sensibilisation contre le trafic des espèces protégées sont diffusés à l’attention des voyageurs. Et sur le terrain, les services des douanes, les agents du ministère des forêts et de la faune sont mobilisés pour traquer les réseaux criminels spécialisés dans le commerce illégal d’espèces protégées.
Challenging build-up, but Stormers fired up for All Blacks – Rito Hlungwani
Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani admitted that it has been a tough build-up to their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry (RGR) tour game against the All Blacks at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday, but said that the Stormers were fully up and ready for the challenge.
Ordinarily this would be the middle of the Stormers United Rugby Championship squads off season, with their next campaign to kick off at the end of September, but due to their match against the All Blacks, a number of the squad have had to return to training earlier.
Thus a number of players have not yet received a sufficient break, but will undoubtedly be extremely excited to face the Haka and test themselves against the Springboks biggest rivals the All Blacks.
Challenging
“It has been a bit challenging and we’ve had to work around those challenges. Usually at this stage (of the off-season) we are still in break mode or just at the start of the pre-season. We had to come back a bit earlier this year,” explained Hlungwani at a Stormers press conference on Monday.
“We have got a group of players who have been playing in the Currie Cup, and there are a few guys who had an extra week or two added onto the previous season through playing for the SA A team, and of course, we also have a few Junior Boks.
“So we managed to get everyone back a bit earlier because we knew we had this big game to prepare for and everyone is hungry to be part of it.
“It is massively challenging because of the time of year we are in, but we have been working together for three weeks now, and we do feel we have prepared really well for what will be a massive occasion for us as a club. For many of the players and coaches this will be a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Possible selections
Although he didn’t want to give anything away, Hlungwani admitted that exciting Junior Springbok star flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed was training with the URC squad and would be in the running to feature in Friday nights match.
“We will announce the team later in the week, but he (Ahmed) has been training with us, as has Oli Reid (Junior Bok prop). We have had a number of the Junior Boks who are not currently in the Currie Cup squad training with us,” said Hlungwani.
A position that they may struggle to fill is lock, after both Salmaan Moerat and Ruben van Heerden left the franchise after the past season, while some players are injured, or returning to fitness from injury, including former Junior Bok captain Riley Norton.
“JD (Schickerling) is moving around well at training, but we’re not sure if we want to push him for this game. Riley is also back running after his injury with the Springboks, but again we’re not sure if we want to risk him this weekend,” explained Hlungwani.
“Adre Smith is available, Connor Evans is available, and Ruan Ackermann has played lock before, so we do have options.”